Consultation opens on road work permit scheme

Boris Johnson yesterday announced the start of a three month consultation on a proposed London Permit Scheme. The scheme would regulate street works and ensure companies digging up roads in London minimised disruption to the public and road users.

The scheme is a partnership between Transport for London and 18 of London’s 33 local authorities and will seek, where possible, to force multiple companies wishing to dig up the same section of road to carry out work at the same time.

According to TfL, 90 per cent of works are carried out with less than ten days notice to the highway authority.

Speaking yesterday Mayor Johnson said: “I am working with the utilities to get them to pull up their socks on this frustrating issue and I’m urging all of them to get on board and take part.”

In May 2008 Mr Johnson agreed to drop legal action started by his predecessor against Thames Water’s desalination plant at Beckton in return for a commitment by the company to “work with the Mayor to reduce the impact of their roadworks on traffic in London”.